Annual precipitation in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Annual precipitation was 51.43 millimeters in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
51.43 millimeters
Change on year
down 23.3%
World rank
187th
of 192 countries
All-time high
113.12 millimeters
in 1972
All-time low
18.84 millimeters
in 1941
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Annual precipitation in Saudi Arabia, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
In 2025, annual precipitation in Saudi Arabia stood at 51.43 millimeters.
The figure is down 23.3% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual precipitation in Saudi Arabia peaked at 113.12 millimeters in 1972 and was at its lowest, 18.84 millimeters, in 1941.
Saudi Arabia ranks 187th of 192 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 86 years of available data.
Annual precipitation in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 56.55 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | 18.84 millimeters | -66.7% |
| 1942 | 79.05 millimeters | +319.5% |
| 1943 | 94.2 millimeters | +19.2% |
| 1944 | 73.56 millimeters | -21.9% |
| 1945 | 41.66 millimeters | -43.4% |
| 1946 | 40.82 millimeters | -2.0% |
| 1947 | 104.44 millimeters | +155.8% |
| 1948 | 85.05 millimeters | -18.6% |
| 1949 | 111.34 millimeters | +30.9% |
| 1950 | 105.04 millimeters | -5.7% |
| 1951 | 60.12 millimeters | -42.8% |
| 1952 | 84.92 millimeters | +41.2% |
| 1953 | 90.98 millimeters | +7.1% |
| 1954 | 53.2 millimeters | -41.5% |
| 1955 | 57.91 millimeters | +8.9% |
| 1956 | 48.37 millimeters | -16.5% |
| 1957 | 75.31 millimeters | +55.7% |
| 1958 | 46.74 millimeters | -37.9% |
| 1959 | 60.16 millimeters | +28.7% |
| 1960 | 50.9 millimeters | -15.4% |
| 1961 | 79.66 millimeters | +56.5% |
| 1962 | 38.81 millimeters | -51.3% |
| 1963 | 91.31 millimeters | +135.3% |
| 1964 | 88.13 millimeters | -3.5% |
| 1965 | 86.8 millimeters | -1.5% |
| 1966 | 50.18 millimeters | -42.2% |
| 1967 | 82.91 millimeters | +65.2% |
| 1968 | 79.91 millimeters | -3.6% |
| 1969 | 61.34 millimeters | -23.2% |
| 1970 | 38.95 millimeters | -36.5% |
| 1971 | 65.09 millimeters | +67.1% |
| 1972 | 113.12 millimeters | +73.8% |
| 1973 | 39.82 millimeters | -64.8% |
| 1974 | 88.63 millimeters | +122.6% |
| 1975 | 95.46 millimeters | +7.7% |
| 1976 | 65.28 millimeters | -31.6% |
| 1977 | 73.02 millimeters | +11.9% |
| 1978 | 44.18 millimeters | -39.5% |
| 1979 | 58.21 millimeters | +31.8% |
| 1980 | 47.64 millimeters | -18.2% |
| 1981 | 43.72 millimeters | -8.2% |
| 1982 | 104.26 millimeters | +138.5% |
| 1983 | 82.17 millimeters | -21.2% |
| 1984 | 56.46 millimeters | -31.3% |
| 1985 | 74.53 millimeters | +32.0% |
| 1986 | 81.39 millimeters | +9.2% |
| 1987 | 57.49 millimeters | -29.4% |
| 1988 | 64.16 millimeters | +11.6% |
| 1989 | 61.66 millimeters | -3.9% |
| 1990 | 39.47 millimeters | -36.0% |
| 1991 | 59.46 millimeters | +50.7% |
| 1992 | 90.92 millimeters | +52.9% |
| 1993 | 86.75 millimeters | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 50.78 millimeters | -41.5% |
| 1995 | 107.57 millimeters | +111.8% |
| 1996 | 88.33 millimeters | -17.9% |
| 1997 | 112.11 millimeters | +26.9% |
| 1998 | 71.68 millimeters | -36.1% |
| 1999 | 52.73 millimeters | -26.4% |
| 2000 | 50.76 millimeters | -3.7% |
| 2001 | 49.48 millimeters | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 66.65 millimeters | +34.7% |
| 2003 | 56.71 millimeters | -14.9% |
| 2004 | 69.19 millimeters | +22.0% |
| 2005 | 67.12 millimeters | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 70.91 millimeters | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 39.02 millimeters | -45.0% |
| 2008 | 50.66 millimeters | +29.8% |
| 2009 | 49.59 millimeters | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 39.99 millimeters | -19.4% |
| 2011 | 46.59 millimeters | +16.5% |
| 2012 | 38.55 millimeters | -17.3% |
| 2013 | 76.16 millimeters | +97.6% |
| 2014 | 47.29 millimeters | -37.9% |
| 2015 | 61.08 millimeters | +29.2% |
| 2016 | 63.48 millimeters | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 47.95 millimeters | -24.5% |
| 2018 | 89.26 millimeters | +86.2% |
| 2019 | 67.57 millimeters | -24.3% |
| 2020 | 50.02 millimeters | -26.0% |
| 2021 | 34.7 millimeters | -30.6% |
| 2022 | 51.33 millimeters | +47.9% |
| 2023 | 90.84 millimeters | +77.0% |
| 2024 | 67.03 millimeters | -26.2% |
| 2025 | 51.43 millimeters | -23.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 51.43 millimeters is below the median for high income countries, which is 891.63 millimeters, 6% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 51.43 millimeters is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 115.13 millimeters, 45% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual precipitation in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | +319.5% | 18.84 millimeters | 79.05 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 70.55 millimeters | 18.84 millimeters | 111.34 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 68.27 millimeters | 46.74 millimeters | 105.04 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 70.99 millimeters | 38.81 millimeters | 91.31 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 68.18 millimeters | 38.95 millimeters | 113.12 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 67.35 millimeters | 43.72 millimeters | 104.26 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 75.98 millimeters | 39.47 millimeters | 112.11 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.01 millimeters | 39.02 millimeters | 70.91 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.79 millimeters | 38.55 millimeters | 89.26 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.56 millimeters | 34.7 millimeters | 90.84 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More climate change data for Saudi Arabia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 134.54 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,043 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,830 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,213 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 79.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,017 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,002 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 15.05 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 3.78 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual precipitation in Saudi Arabia?
- Annual precipitation in Saudi Arabia was 51.43 millimeters in 2025, according to Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual precipitation recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 113.12 millimeters in 1972.
- What is the lowest annual precipitation recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.84 millimeters in 1941.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for annual precipitation?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 187th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual precipitation rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual precipitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 86 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total annual precipitation—rain and snow—calculated as the sum of daily averages, reported as the depth of water falling to Earth's surface, excluding fog and dew.